Chevrolet has recently announced its plan to build the C8 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, a customer race car based on the brand new C8 Corvette Z06 and it’s sreamin’ demon V8 engine. According to Chevrolet Performance, the new Z06 GT3.R will be the closest-ever link between the road-going Corvette Z06 and Corvette Racing.
When it arrives on the scene for the 2024 season, the Pratt & Miller built C8 Corvette Z06 GT3.R will share the same aluminum chassis, similar aerodynamic features, and bodywork, along with the same 5.5L flat-plane DOHC V8 as the production Z06.
“It’s an exciting time for Corvette – first with the reveal of the production Z06 and now confirming the Corvette Z06 GT3.R for customer racers,” said Mark Stielow, former GM Nürburgring hot shoe, now Chevrolet Director of Motorsports Competition Engineering, and godfather of the Pro Touring movement. “The availability of the Z06 GT3.R will allow customer race teams the opportunity to campaign a Corvette that has benefited from Corvette Racing’s rich history.”
The C8 Corvette GT3.R program will mark a huge fork in the road for Corvette Racing, which has never offered turn-key, customer cars in an official capacity. We’ve seen previous offerings from the likes of Callaway Competition with the C7 GT3, but it seems like Chevrolet has decided to bring things more in-house going forward.
Image via GM.
Since its inception in 1999, Corvette Racing has always operated as a partnership between Chevrolet and Pratt & Miller Engineering, which builds the race cars and operates the program on behalf of GM. Corvette Racing has always run as a two-car team, with no outside customers, aside from when retired chassis are sold off to Larbre Competition, as was the case with both the C6.R and C7.R.
While the debut just happened, the new Corvette Racing GT3-spec car won’t show up until the 2024 season. With IMSA and the ACO doing away with the current GTE-née-GT2 regulations ending this season, the current Corvette C8.R will be slightly modified to meet the new GTD (see GT3) regulations, which will include spec tires, spec ABS, revised aero rules, and a decreased power output. Nobody said it was simple.
Regardless, if you’re interested in getting your hands on one of the new Z06 GT3.Rs there’s simply a form you have to fill out on the Chevrolet Racing website and then wait until someone from accounting calls to collect payment.
Image via Chevrolet Performance
